smoothly. “I’m only here to assist you in any way I can. I understand that while the DNA tests have not yet been verified. However, there is a body of opinion that the corpse is Father Gilroy and that he has been the object of a vicious attack prior to the fire.”
“You would seem to be well informed,” Wilson looked at Graham who shrugged his shoulders. “ We will of course await the DNA verification. Harry, the paper for the good Monsignor.”
Graham produced the search warrant and handed it to Monsignor Devlin who gave it a cursory examination before handing it back. “I’m sure everything is in order,” he said producing a set of keys from the pocket of his overcoat and presented them to Wilson who in turn passed them to Graham.
“You do the honours, Harry,” Wilson said standing back to allow Graham access to the front door.
Graham selected a large old-fashioned key from the bunch on the key-ring and slipped it into the lock of the front door.
Wilson was aware of the Monsignor taking a large breath as soon as the door swung open. He removed a pair of surgical gloves from his pocket and placed then on his hands. Harry Graham did the same.
Wilson entered the cottage first and was forced to wait several moments to allow his eyes to become accustomed to the low level of light in the living room. The two windows that allowed light to enter the room were too small for the job and as soon as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, he searched the wall for a light switch. Before he located it, the room was illuminated, and he turned to see Devlin standing beside the light control.
“I see that you’re well acquainted with the rectory, Monsignor,” Wilson said. “Our forensic people will want to have a look around later. and we’ll need a set of your fingerprints for elimination purposes. In the meantime, I would be grateful if you wouldn’t touch anything.”
“Of course,” Monsignor Devlin said moving away from the light switch.
The room in which they stood was the living room. It was small perhaps no more than 200 square feet and was furnished simply with a two-seater sofa and an easy chair set before a coffee table. The open fire had been set but not lit. In the corner was a small television set at least three model generations old. The unit on which the television sat had a slot beneath in which a DVD player was installed. A simple wooden bookshelf stood against the wall directly facing the front door centred between two timber interior doors. A half-dozen books leaned against each other on one of the shelves. The stained floorboards were covered by a cheap imitation Persian carpet. A single picture of Christ and a crucifix were the only adornments on the faded flower print wallpaper.
Wilson took in the whole room in a glance. This was beyond Scandinavian simplicity. He had the impression of walking onto a theatre set. The room looked unlived in. Bare to the essentials. Set up to give the visitor the impression of simplicity.
Wilson moved the right-hand door and opened it into a small kitchen. One wall contained the sink, cooker and two wooden storage floor units. A series of shelves were attached to the wall above and contained miscellaneous jars. An ancient fridge stood against the back wall and a small table and two chairs were set against the wall opposite to the cooker and sink. Father Gilroy would not be giving any dinner parties in his utilitarian kitchen.
Wilson left the kitchen and moved to the door on the left of the bookcase. The door led to a good-sized bedroom one corner of which had been hived off to create an en-suite bathroom. Wilson opened the bathroom door and gave a cursory look to the small room, sink, walk-in shower with a tattered shower curtain and the toilet. He closed the bathroom door quietly and returned to the bedroom. The floral patterned wallpaper made its way from the living room into the bedroom. A single bed covered by a duvet dominated the centre of
“You would seem to be well informed,” Wilson looked at Graham who shrugged his shoulders. “ We will of course await the DNA verification. Harry, the paper for the good Monsignor.”
Graham produced the search warrant and handed it to Monsignor Devlin who gave it a cursory examination before handing it back. “I’m sure everything is in order,” he said producing a set of keys from the pocket of his overcoat and presented them to Wilson who in turn passed them to Graham.
“You do the honours, Harry,” Wilson said standing back to allow Graham access to the front door.
Graham selected a large old-fashioned key from the bunch on the key-ring and slipped it into the lock of the front door.
Wilson was aware of the Monsignor taking a large breath as soon as the door swung open. He removed a pair of surgical gloves from his pocket and placed then on his hands. Harry Graham did the same.
Wilson entered the cottage first and was forced to wait several moments to allow his eyes to become accustomed to the low level of light in the living room. The two windows that allowed light to enter the room were too small for the job and as soon as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, he searched the wall for a light switch. Before he located it, the room was illuminated, and he turned to see Devlin standing beside the light control.
“I see that you’re well acquainted with the rectory, Monsignor,” Wilson said. “Our forensic people will want to have a look around later. and we’ll need a set of your fingerprints for elimination purposes. In the meantime, I would be grateful if you wouldn’t touch anything.”
“Of course,” Monsignor Devlin said moving away from the light switch.
The room in which they stood was the living room. It was small perhaps no more than 200 square feet and was furnished simply with a two-seater sofa and an easy chair set before a coffee table. The open fire had been set but not lit. In the corner was a small television set at least three model generations old. The unit on which the television sat had a slot beneath in which a DVD player was installed. A simple wooden bookshelf stood against the wall directly facing the front door centred between two timber interior doors. A half-dozen books leaned against each other on one of the shelves. The stained floorboards were covered by a cheap imitation Persian carpet. A single picture of Christ and a crucifix were the only adornments on the faded flower print wallpaper.
Wilson took in the whole room in a glance. This was beyond Scandinavian simplicity. He had the impression of walking onto a theatre set. The room looked unlived in. Bare to the essentials. Set up to give the visitor the impression of simplicity.
Wilson moved the right-hand door and opened it into a small kitchen. One wall contained the sink, cooker and two wooden storage floor units. A series of shelves were attached to the wall above and contained miscellaneous jars. An ancient fridge stood against the back wall and a small table and two chairs were set against the wall opposite to the cooker and sink. Father Gilroy would not be giving any dinner parties in his utilitarian kitchen.
Wilson left the kitchen and moved to the door on the left of the bookcase. The door led to a good-sized bedroom one corner of which had been hived off to create an en-suite bathroom. Wilson opened the bathroom door and gave a cursory look to the small room, sink, walk-in shower with a tattered shower curtain and the toilet. He closed the bathroom door quietly and returned to the bedroom. The floral patterned wallpaper made its way from the living room into the bedroom. A single bed covered by a duvet dominated the centre of
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